| The school lunch system in America has changed | | | | associated with obesity. Those children that |
| over the years in many ways. The school lunch | | | | depend on the school lunch program are the |
| program began under Harry S. Truman in 1946 as | | | | same children that have eaten high-fat foods that |
| a way to help every child have a nutritious lunch. | | | | are less nutritious. |
| The belief was that children would do better in | | | | Children consume nearly half of their calorie |
| their studies, if they had the fuel they needed to | | | | allowance eating school meals. The school lunch |
| get them through the day. President Lyndon | | | | reform is a way to provide millions of American |
| Johnson began a pilot program which included | | | | children healthier lunch options while still being |
| breakfast in 1966. | | | | tasty. Children who are used to eating pizza, |
| Underprivileged and poor children were provided | | | | burgers, and sweets may not do so well if served |
| with either free lunches or a reduced rate to | | | | vegetables, fruits, and grains. However, not |
| ensure everyone had the opportunity to eat | | | | making further changes to the school lunch |
| meals at school. In the 2005 school year, over 9 | | | | program will only continue adding further fuel to |
| million children participated in both the lunch and | | | | today's obesity epidemic among school age |
| breakfast programs and in 2010, nearly 30 million | | | | children. |
| children participated in the school meal plan. The | | | | President Obama has currently created a Task |
| increase is significant in children who rely on | | | | Force on Childhood Obesity, which is the first of |
| schools to serve daily meals, and serving healthier | | | | its kind. It is clear the administration is taking the |
| meals will help everyone involved. | | | | obesity issue seriously since just 20 years ago, |
| Over the years, a cause for concern over the | | | | childhood obesity was not an epidemic like it is |
| amount of fat the school lunches and breakfasts | | | | today with American children. Since children spend |
| were providing the children. Many children learn | | | | a considerable deal of their time at school, by |
| unhealthy eating habits through the high-fat pizzas, | | | | teaching them the importance of making healthier |
| burgers, and French fries serves at school. Efforts | | | | eating choices, the hope is it will spill over into their |
| were made to include more fruits and vegetables | | | | lives when they are away from school. |
| and less fat, but the meals still contained too | | | | School lunches have certainly changed since Harry |
| much fat and may have contributed to childhood | | | | S. Truman made passed the law that helped |
| obesity. | | | | children have lunches while at school. The school |
| President Obama has undertaken a school lunch | | | | lunch reform will no doubt continue to change, as |
| reform in an attempt to overhaul the foods that | | | | America attempts to stop the obesity epidemic |
| are served and provide healthier alternatives. The | | | | and change the poor eating habits among its |
| reasoning for the reform is clear, by reducing | | | | youth. |
| childhood obesity; it reduces health conditions | | | | |